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Auto FinanceTips For Getting An Auto Loan

Welcome to new car finance. The biggest new car financing mistake buyers make is trying to buy a new car without checking online auto loan rates or knowing if their credit history can support that action.  A big source of emails we get are from people with auto financing issues, whose new car loans fell through at the dealer. Buyers see 0% APR ads, can't get the cheap auto loan rates, as they were unaware of their low credit score. Applying for new car financing without knowing your credit score is the dumbest thing a new car buyer can do.

 
New car finance Rule: Don't trade in a car that you still owe money on

We get complaints from people who traded in a car they owed money on for new car financing and 2 months later were shocked to hear the new car dealer did not pay off their car loan in 10 days as promised.  With this scam dealers pay you less for your trade. When the bank calls, YOU are responsible because the old car loan is still in your name, until the dealer pays it off. If you trade a used car in for new car loans, make them put in writing they'll pay off your car loan in 10 days, or no deal.


Page Sections -
How your credit score affects your auto loan rates | Warning about car dealer low APR new car financing, few people qualify | Auto Leasing Financing | Your Deposits And Down Payment | What Should Your Credit Score Be For Approval On New Car Loans? | Steps to take before you apply for new car loans | Good Sources of Online New Car Financing | Driving Records



How your credit score affects your auto loan rates

People with bad credit pay higher auto loan interest rates. It can hurt your job prospects, insurance companies check your credit too. Get your credit report instantly online, it's a must for The Folder.  DO NOT apply for new car loans until you get your credit report WITH credit score. Get it online at Equifax, Experian or TrueCredit.  Remember, you can run your own credit file all you want, but if dealers run it for new car loans, then your score drops a bit. If your score is <550, don't apply for new car loans until you learn how to repair your own credit. Your last auto financing resort is a bad credit auto loan.

Online Auto Loans: Getting the lowest Auto Financing APR

According to the Consumer Federation of America, car buyers are often overcharged by 3% on their loans at the dealership, which can add $1000 to the life of their loan. Your best sources for new car financing are new car loan sites such as E-LOAN and Capital One Auto Finance  With the lowest online auto loan rates, they usually beat dealers, no application fees, or down payments. Your new car loan is approved in minutes. These are not bad credit auto loans. Get your online auto financing quotes, compare to dealer auto financing, use whoever has the best car loan interest rate.  Online auto loan rates are the standard for dealers to beat. Use online car loan payment calculators and choose your best auto financing.

I'm paying cash, why does the dealer want me to fill out a credit application?

Dealers tell people it is required by the Patriot Act to monitor cash. I have not verified it, who knows, maybe they will pressure you to use them for new car finance. There is a lot of cashiers check fraud; you can see why they want check you out. Some buyers tell me they convinced the dealer to relent.

How to get bad credit auto loans

If your Credit Score is < 600 don't submit loan applications that get rejected, dropping your credit score even further. Apply to AutoCreditFinders, they find "bad credit car loans" for you. They get you new car financing from high risk lenders, with decent online auto loan rates, even with a bankruptcy. If your score is > 550, no bad credit for 6 months, AutoCreditFinders Bad Credit Auto Loans can help you establish credit with lower online auto loan rates than dealers. If you had bad credit in the past, but now you make more money, you'll find you are cash rich, and credit poor.  Then a bad credit auto loan might be your only hope.

Warning about car dealer low APR new car financing, few people qualify

Estimates show that as few as 7% of you will qualify for those low APR new car auto loan rates we see advertised by car manufacturers.  Some low APR car loans require a credit score over 700 to get that rate, and most require 36 months to pay off the loan.  Many of you cannot pay off the auto loan in 36 months, so you may be forced to pass on the deal.

"Subject To Financing": why the dealer called you 2 weeks later to re-sign your auto loan

New car financing at the dealer can be a headache. The "Subject to Financing" clause appears on paperwork of all new car loans.  It means the deal is not done, yet you think you are signing a contract. Then 2 weeks later the car dealer calls saying "your new car loan fell through." They knew what you qualified for when you bought the car, a common auto loan scam, usually pulled on people with bad credit. You should not buy a new car first then worry about new car financing.  When you buy a house, you MUST have approval first, so have your car loan in order before car shopping. Use online auto loan sites such as Capital One Auto Finance and E-LOAN. The lower online auto loan rates avoid these scams. Sometimes dealers call and say they found you a lower APR. Oh, Really? Have them fax you over all the new figures and APR in writing, and make sure they did not increase the number of months. Otherwise do not re-sign any contracts. We are big proponents of online new car loans. Don't get stuck with bad credit auto loan if it's not necessary. This would have been avoided if you used online auto financing.

Financing used car loans, person to person

If you're buying a used car, how do you finance a used car loan? Capital One Auto Finance has person-to-person used car loans. Use these used car loans to pay your seller.  They work smooth too, like butter!  I helped my friend Jerry by a used Lexus from a private seller.  You apply, they FedEx the used car loan check to you, then give it to the seller, who cashes the check.  Done deal.

Keep your debt to income ratio and credit balances low

It's crucial before you attempt new car financing, to get your credit balances below 50% of your credit limit or they lower your credit score. You pay on time but can still have a low credit score if balances are too high, you applied for credit recently, or have too many open accounts. This surprises many people applying for auto loans who get rejected. Get your debt to income ratio below 30%, otherwise banks stick you into
bad credit auto loan.

Auto Leasing Financing

If leasing, try Lease Wizard's Live Lender Quote (L.L.Q.) giving you 6 new car finance quotes from lenders in your area.  Use it to bargain with your dealer on a lease.

New "bad credit" car financing credit score scam

This happens often with new car financing. One buyer told me his score was 780 from 3 credit bureaus. He applied for auto financing at the dealer. Four sales guys came out of the finance office with a bogus "credit score" of 580 circled in red. They lied that with his bad credit they could get him financed at 10.9%, not at the special 2.7% auto loan interest rate. It's New car finance trickery. He pulled out his own credit report showing Equifax at 780, why is theirs is 580? Three salespeople scattered, the last guy lied that credit agencies show better credit scores to consumers than to lenders. The buyer left, buying his Chrysler elsewhere at 2.7% APR.  For people with bad credit, this scam works perfectly, suckering you into a bad credit car loan.

Warning about Low APR auto loans (0%, 1.9%, etc.)

Usually low APR rates like 0% or 1.9% are offered to few people with perfect credit, on new car loans typically 12 to 36 months.  According to J.D. Power, only 7% of new car sales in 2003 took advantage of these low teaser rates, down from 10% in 2002. Most of you planning 48 or 60 month auto loans, or used car loans won't get 0%. Ads say "with approved credit".  You either get the low car loan APR or rebate, not both. Calculate which is cheaper.  It may be better to take a large rebate over the 0% APR new car financing. Compare to online auto loan rates. Pay off your auto loan early, saving on interest. Applying the rebate and using your own low-interest financing often gets you greater savings.

Don't fall into the gap!

If you owe more on your car than it is worth, if you lease, or put down less than 20%, you should get Gap Coverage from your insurance agent. Most people call it gap insurance. Try not to buy it from dealers, they charge $500-$700 when it costs 1/2 that online. If you owe $20,000 on your car, but it's only worth $16,000, you're upside down. You wreck the car, or it's stolen, your insurance company gives you $16,000. You must still come up with $4000 to pay off the bank, plus your $500 deductible! Gap coverage protects you against this. The better ones cover up to $500 of your deductible.

Your Deposits And Down Payment

Never pay cash for a deposit on new car financing.  If the deal goes south, at some dealers, you'll never get your cash back, but you can dispute a credit transaction. If You need a new card for deposits, and have good credit, try the Discover Platinum Card or the Discover Gold Card, both have no annual fee. If your credit is so bad and If you're in too deep, maybe now is not the time for auto financing.  But don't take on more debt with a consolidation loan, try a debt reduction program instead like the non-profit iDebtAssistance.com. You get an interest rate reduction payment, which pays off your balances much quicker than you ever could on your own.

The VIN Etching scam in the finance office

Dealers slip in a $300-$900 fee for VIN# window etching into your new car finance paperwork, lying that you won't get the auto loan without it, "the bank requires it".  You can order the same kit used by car dealers online from CarEtch.com for $29. Some dealers lie that the VIN etch was free, yet it's padded in your payment.

Bad Affect Of Low Credit Scores on your new car financing

Your credit score determines your new car loan approval and APR.  If you have bad credit and score is low, you'll pay high car loan interest rates, up to 23%, with a bad credit auto loan.  If your score is below 720, you might not get those special 0% new car financing rates. Your bad credit score affects how much you pay for car insurance rates. People with bad credit have no clue about this, maintaining your credit score should be an ongoing process, not a rush job when financing a new car.  That's the worst time, banks will reject you if you have disputed items on your credit report, until it resolves.  It can take 60 days to clean up your credit score, so don't apply for new auto financing until all disputes are resolved and you verified your FICO Score. You have been warned!  I have seen people rejected for applying while "in dispute." Then they get stuck with bad credit auto loans.
 

What Should Your Credit Score Be For Approval On New Car Loans?
  • If your credit score is > 680, you are a "prime borrower".  Your low APR auto loan will most surely be approved
  • If your credit score is < 680, you are "sub prime".  You'll pay higher APR on your auto loan
  • Below 550, you can forget about a car loan, or get a bad credit auto loan

A car dealer shouldn't know more about your FICO Score than you. Get yours now.
In 2001 it became possible for you to get your own Beacon FICO Credit Score.  Congress fought hard for your right to get your credit score, so use it. Previously lenders kept this beacon score secret from you, so they could charge you higher APR on new car loans. Get your Credit Score so dealers can't lie and say your score was low and charge higher APR.  This happens all the time.
Where to get your credit score: Equifax, Consumerinfo or TrueCredit.  Is your credit score over 680? Time to get to work.

Now is the time to get your credit report: Don't put it off until later,  Do it now before you finish reading this page, and correct it.

Credit score myths: "I've never missed a payment.  My credit score must be high!"

Many people get upset at auto loan time when they find out their credit score is low, and they have bad credit.  Paying on time is but one of 100 variables making up your credit score.  Having many open accounts will damage your credit score, as there is potential for you to spend up to your credit limits. People with good credit have too much credit and old accounts no longer in use. Having credit account balances above 50% of the credit limit quickly degrades your score, meaning higher auto financing interest rates and bad credit auto loans.

How to increase your car loan approval chances

  • If you're a recent college grad, don't apply for new car loans until you're at your new job at least 6 months

  • Apply online at auto loan sites like Capital One Auto Finance or E-LOAN who don't play games with online auto loan rates

  • Learn how to repair bad credit, get your credit score to 680 before you apply for new car loans

  • Pay down your credit card balances as low as possible, payoff higher APR cards first before applying for auto loans

  • Don't apply for new car loans if you have bad credit, moved in the last 6 months.  Lenders hate nomads, they verify addresses & income

  • A previous new car finance or home mortgage on your record helps

  • Get a stable occupation like engineer, architect, finance, etc.  Self employment is very difficult to get approved

  • Haggle with creditors to get charge off's, late payments, other black marks off your credit report before auto financing

Credit card companies say it takes 60 days for paying off your credit cards to show up on your credit report, but who wants to wait 2 months before buying a car? One of our visitors filed a request for investigation of her report stating that the balances on these cards were incorrect, and the investigator looked up her correct balances. She checked 2 weeks later and it was changed. Also, by paying off 2 credit cards from 70% max credit level down to 0%, increased her credit score 100 points. That's the difference between paying 6% APR for a new car loan, and 21% for a bad credit auto loan.

Steps to take before you apply for new car loans:

  • Get your Credit Score so dealers can't lie to you about your score. Flash it in their face when they lie to you about your score

  • Start comparing online auto loan rates to new car dealers, use car loan payment calculators

  • Close old credit accounts, they are excess luggage dragging down your credit score, but leave your oldest account open

  • Remove erroneous previous addresses and other errors off your credit report before attempting new car financing

  • Wait until your score goes up to 680 if applying for lowest rate car loans

New car dealer financing is just a product the dealer sells you. Is it an auto loan or not a auto loan?

New car loans at the dealer are not really new car loans, nor used car loans. They are Retail Installment Sales Contracts (RISCs). Great acronym. The dealer sells the RISC to a bank, often sharing interest rates, so the higher APR they charge you, the more money they make. Unless there is a subsidized low APR from the car maker, you'll usually find lower online car loan interest rates at online new car financing sites. Now you have lower online auto loan rates. In the 1990s, we HAD to get our auto financing at the dealer.  New car financing is just a product the dealer sells you.  You don't have to buy their convenient product anymore. You should never put yourself in a position where you rely on a new car dealer to tell you how good your credit is, you should be telling yourself instead by understanding your own credit report.  This way you avoid their bad credit auto loans. Subject to new car finance.

Don't Be Fooled By Lower Monthly Car Loan Monthly Payments

When auto loan shopping, look beyond monthly car payments.  Sneaky dealers quote a lower monthly payment than your bank, but the dealer's auto loan might be 72 months, and your bank's auto loan is 36 months, a common scam, to get you into a bad credit auto loan. Some dealers lie about APR on their auto loans, but plugging numbers into a car loan payment calculator exposes the lie.  Auto financing is a cat and mouse game. Always verify their numbers, make sure monthly car payments match the selling price and APR that you are expecting to pay. If you can't check their numbers, you have no business taking out an auto loan! You have the right to know how much new car loans will cost including interest rate, trade-in value, taxes, and fees, all disclosed in writing. But there are people selling you new car financing who don't want you to know how much you're spending, and divert your attention by pointing out low monthly payments you are comfortable with. The same happens with used car loans. Always car loan payment calculators to verify car loan interest rates and payments.

The Straw Purchase car loan, don't do a co-sign!

This is the dark side of auto financing. A straw purchase refers to a person buying a handgun for someone who is ineligible to own one.  That's how the Columbine High School shooters got their guns.  With new car buying, the dealer tells you that with bad credit, you can't qualify for the auto loan so you need a co-signer.  No problem, Grandma will do it for you.  But Grandma is duped by the dealer paper shuffle and 2 weeks later you find out there is no co-signed auto loan, they wrote the auto loan in Grandma's name!  This does not help your bad credit. Her name is on the title, and it's illegal for you to buy insurance on a new car that is not titled to you. This is pulled a lot on used car loans also.

How To Avoid The Scam: Have both signers present, auto loans should have both signatures together. A notice to the cosigner is required by the Federal Trade Commission's Trade Regulation Rule on Credit Practices.  With bad credit you should try a cheaper used car, with a used car loan.

Good Sources of Online New Car Financing

For discount new car buying we recommend sites such as Cars.com, InvoiceDealers, CarsDirect, Autoweb, Car.com and Edmunds.com and with online car financing, everything from the last time you bought a new car is old school.  The easiest way to get pre approved for an auto loan is a credit union or trustworthy online auto loan sites such as Capital One Auto FinanceE-LOANLending Tree and AutoCreditFinders.  Before you buy a car you must have auto financing ready. Once you are pre approved by the new car financing sites, compare online auto loan rates to the dealer's APR. If the dealer can beat your online car loan APR, with no cash flow shell games, finance through the dealer. Otherwise use online new car loans. Banks charge a bit more for used car loans, than new car loans.

Advantages Of Auto Financing: Online new car loans and used car loans

Benefits of new car loans from an online auto loan company:

  • Online auto loan rates from sites like Capital One Auto Finance and E-LOAN usually lower than car dealers

  • Low APR, No app fees for New Car Loans and Used Car Loans

  • Online car loan payment calculators, your auto financing APR is locked for 60 days

  • Online new car financing avoids headaches, bad credit auto loan scams, and frustration of car dealer auto financing

  • Auto loan approvals are usually within an hour during business hours

  • No new car finance hidden fees, points, or prepayment penalties with online new car financing

  • New car loan lenders FedEx your check to arrive next day

  • When you buy your car, give the dealer a bank draft from Capital One Auto Finance or E-LOAN online auto loans

Auto Financing for First Time Car Buyers And College Students with bad credit

Some dealers have first time buyer/college graduate auto financing programs subsidized by carmakers.  Sometimes there is no recent grad new car finance program, they just charge you 18% APR for new car loans.  If you have good credit history, there's no reason to pay 18% in a bad credit auto loan, they are feeding off your ignorance and rejection fears.  You have the same haggling rights I do, don't let any salesman tell you otherwise.  Don't fall for first time buyer "0 down" auto financing ads.  You must put 20% down on new car loans, or you'll be upside down on your auto loan. Salespeople tell you auto loans are a way for you to establish credit, but it does not mean you have to pay a high APR on your auto loan. You might try used car auto loans too, since you will be borrowing less money. Use car loan payment calculators to get used to the numbers. If you work at your college, try an auto loan through the credit union, a good place to establish credit.  Don't let your parents buy the car cash, or finance under their name, it wont establish credit for you. Pay down your debts and clean up your credit score before applying for a car loan. The key to stability is living where you can afford the rent, even if it's not up to your standards, so you don't have to move.  If you move around you become un-creditworthy, and might only be able to get a used car loan, or a bad credit car loan.

Driving Records

Driving Records are state driver's license reports containing details about a driver's history including accidents and violations.  Each state maintains records of their registered drivers' activities occurring only in that state.

Driving records can be obtained by insurance companies to determine your rates as well as by companies during their employment screening procedures when hiring.  Some employers may even require that you submit your driving record along with your employment application.  A single typo on your driving record can cost you hundreds of dollars in insurance rates.  It can even cost you a job.

 


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